Sportswear with at least one controlled temperature zone

ABSTRACT

A piece of sportswear with at least one controlled temperature zone which is made of a textile fabric structure that is shirred locally via tension zones so as to form webs. The webs are designed to contact the skin of the wearer on the interior of the fabric structure, and inner air channels are formed between the webs. At least one groove which forms an outer air channel is formed on the rear face of each of the webs on the shirred sheet structure. The controlled temperature zone is equipped with individualized controlled temperature elements which are contained in short webs separated from one another by lateral separation zones. Adjacent inner air channels are connected together by the separation zones, and the separation zones are laterally offset to one another between the controlled temperature elements such that the controlled temperature elements are arranged to at least partly overlap with respect to the length of the vertical body axis.

The invention relates to a piece of sportswear with at least one controlled temperature zone having the features in the preamble to claim 1.

Such a piece of sportswear is known from EB 1 476 033 B1. It comprises web-shaped partial areas, which are thickened, and thus contact the skin and form outer air channels on their rear face, as well as areas that do not contact the skin, which form inner air channels. Sweat is absorbed on the webs contacting the skin on the inside of the piece of sportswear, and then wicked away by the webs, and can evaporate via the outer air channels. Evaporation results in local cooling. Air can flow between the webs in the inner air channels, and thereby bring about a temperature compensation. In order to be able to capture the sweat that trickles down, the webs are aligned essentially transverse to the body axis. While these proven controlled temperature zones do permit outstanding sweat absorption, they have the disadvantage that air circulation in the controlled temperature zone is only possible parallel to the webs. Warmed air cannot rise along the body axis inside of the controlled temperature zone.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to improve a piece of sportswear with at least one controlled temperature zone of the kind mentioned at the outset in terms of air circulation, while keeping the good characteristics with respect to sweat absorption and sweat evaporation.

The present invention proposes a piece of sportswear with the features in claim 1 as the solution.

According to the present invention, the controlled temperature zones do not comprise webs and air channels that are continuously aligned parallel to each other, but rather comprise several isolated controlled temperature elements, of which each is separately designed in the known manner, but only has at least one web that does not extend over the entire width of the controlled temperature element. The controlled temperature elements are separated from each other in a transverse direction to the vertical body axis by lateral separation zones.

Within the meaning of the present invention, separation zones are the areas laterally next to a controlled temperature element or between two adjacent controlled temperature elements. The controlled temperature elements are also separated from each other vertically, specifically by transversely running or inclined inner air channels, as already the norm according to prior art. The separation zones are basically also inner air channels, but the linguistic differentiation serves to better characterize the invention with regard to the ensuing directions in which air flows upward and sweat runs off.

The controlled temperature elements are enveloped by textile fabrics. Formed between the latter are the inner channels, through which air circulates. The controlled temperature elements are arranged in such a way that drops of sweat on the skin cannot run from the top down through the entire controlled temperature zone, because they are respectively captured in a lower lying sweat collection area, the ensuing web lying on the skin. To this end, the controlled temperature elements positioned at varying heights relative to the vertical body axis are laterally offset to each other. The elements can be arranged in various ways, which all share in common that the areas contacting the skin and those not contacting the skin alternate or are offset relative to each other so as not to allow a drop of sweat to continue trickling down. At the same time, the offset controlled temperature elements only present a slight obstacle to rising air. The air on the skin surface can circulate in several directions, since air channels in the vertical are kept open by the arrangement of controlled temperature elements with interspersed separation zones. As a result, warmed air can rise through the controlled temperature zone. The chimney effect associated therewith improves moisture removal, and thus cooling of the skin.

The arrangement preferably follows a uniform pattern, but can also be non-uniform, as long as the basic principles of the invention are followed during the formation and arrangement of controlled temperature elements, specifically of providing separation zones to enable a vertical air flow on the one hand, and arranging the separation zones laterally offset on the other, so that sweat trickling down can be captured in the respective rows lying the next level down. The controlled temperature zones with the controlled temperature elements are thus optimally adjusted to the body zones that sweat especially heavily during sports activity.

The offset arrangement relates in particular to a vertical body axis. However, this does not necessarily mean that the alignment has to be exactly vertical when an athlete is wearing the piece of sportswear in the invention, but rather is intended to characterize a direction of air flow, i.e., the direction in which the warmed air can rise along the body surface of the athlete. Of course, this direction of air flow will somehow be directed against the direction of gravity in the usual movement patterns of the athlete, wherein not only a precisely vertical, but also inclined direction of air flow is possible. Several flow vanes can also be formed on the piece of sportswear or even inside of the same controlled temperature zone, meaning the air flow can be fanned out. It is only important in terms of the invention that the direction of air flow not be interrupted by the barriers lying in the flow path that are formed in prior art by the webs.

The direction in which the drops of sweat run off extends opposite the direction of air flow. According to the invention, this direction is in turn to be interrupted, so as to capture the sweat trickling down. Such a barrier created by the laterally offset arrangement of controlled temperature elements need not be present in each row of controlled temperature elements. A sequence of rows without barriers can also be detached by at least one pair of rows offset relative to each other, in which the sweat is then captured.

The controlled temperature zones can be generated by knitting, but also by adhesively bonding elements onto fabrics or other textiles.

The shape and arrangement of the controlled temperature elements can be selected in different ways, wherein all embodiments share in common that the areas contacting the skin and those not lying on the skin alternate with each other or are offset relative to each other so as to prevent a drop of sweat from trickling down unimpeded, and instead capture each drop of sweat again as quickly as possible.

In horizontal projection, the controlled temperature elements can be shaped like a Y, a V, an X, a double-Y or the like, for example, since these shapes are readily suitable for capturing a drop, while at the same time posing only a slight obstacle to laterally passing, rising air.

The controlled temperature zones on the clothing can vary in configuration in the overall extension, with the inclusion of all individual controlled temperature elements, so as to yield various additional advantages. For example, they can be vertically elongated to achieve a pronounced chimney effect, and to in this way be able to transport air from as far down as possible and transport it toward the top at the collar of a shirt or a pant waistband, where it then exits.

The textile fabric structure is preferably a knitted fabric that forms the controlled temperature zone, and is either specially designed for this purpose or connected with the base fabric of the piece of sportswear. In order to form the structures that rise in relation to the body axis and are visible on the following figures, the following measures can be provided while knitting:

-   -   Linear row offset     -   Linear, uniform offset of individual meshes     -   Non-uniform offset of individual meshes     -   Alternating row offset of mesh zones, which yields a preform     -   Alternating, uniform offset of individual meshes, and     -   Alternating, non-uniform offset of individual meshes.

The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the fingers. The figures specifically show:

FIG. 1 A schematic, perspective view of a cutout of a controlled temperature zone of a piece of sportswear

FIGS. 2 to 5 A respective top view of a controlled temperature zone with controlled temperature elements in varying configurations

FIG. 6 A schematic top view of a knitted controlled temperature zone, and

FIG. 7 A perspective view of the controlled temperature zone according to FIG. 1

FIG. 1 shows a controlled temperature zone 10.1 in a textile fabric structure 11.1, wherein it can be a woven or a knitted fabric. For example, the controlled temperature zone 10.1 is arranged on a piece of sportswear, and there formed on the respective body parts where especially profuse sweating takes place during physical exercise.

In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the controlled temperature zone 10.1 consists of a uniform arrangement of individual controlled temperature elements 12.1. Each controlled temperature element 12.1 in itself has at least one area in which the woven or knitted fabric is less elastic and/or shirred by shorter tension zones 15.1, thereby yielding a configuration shaped like a U or V in cross section on the inside of the piece of clothing to be facing the skin 200 of the wearer. This results in a so-called web 14.1 on the inside of the textile fabric structure 11.1. Sweat is captured at the areas of the tip of the web 14.1 contacting the skin 200, and absorbed by the textile. Inner air channels 13.1 are formed between the webs 14.1 contacting the skin 200, through which air can circulate over the skin surface.

The captured sweat is partially transported via the textile, hygroscopic lateral walls of the webs 14.1 to the top side of the controlled temperature zone 12.1 until into the surrounding areas 17.1 of the controlled temperature elements 12.1, which are kept a specific distance away from the skin surface 200 by the webs 14.1. The sweat can here evaporate especially well. The evaporative cooling in turn cools the air in the inner air channels 13.1 lying below the surrounding areas 17.1.

Channel-shaped structures arise on the rear face of the webs 14.1 and form outer air channels 18.1, through which evaporation also takes place.

Because the outer air channels 18.1 are not completely spanned by the tension zones 15.1, captured sweat can also evaporate through them without heat accumulating at the controlled temperature elements 12.1.

The controlled temperature elements 12.1 are arranged in the textile fabric structure 11.1 in such a way as to establish two essential directions, specifically a body axis X that runs essentially vertically with the wearer in an upright posture and corresponds to an air flow direction, and a direction transverse thereto, which runs perpendicularly to the body axis or at an obtuse angle thereto. In the transverse direction, the individual controlled temperature elements 12.1 are separated from each other by the surrounding areas 17.1, among which inner air channels 13.1 are formed. The webs 14.1 of adjacent controlled temperature elements 12.1 are further separated from each other by separation zones 16.1 in their extension in the transverse direction.

While the outer air channels 18.1 formed in the channels of the shirred textile are also interrupted at the separation zones 16.1, there is a transverse connection joining together the individual inner air channels 13.1 on the inside of the controlled temperature zone 10.1, underneath these separation zones 16.1. The separation zones 16.1 and inner air channels 13.1 are thus parts of an air channel network, which is formed on the inner side of the fabric structure 11.1 to be facing toward the body side of the wearer.

The resultantly achieved effects will be explained below by the respective top view of the different exemplary embodiments of controlled temperature zones 10.2, . . . , 10.6 designed according to the invention, which are depicted on FIGS. 2 to 6.

FIG. 2 shows a cutout of a controlled temperature zone 10.2 according to another embodiment of the invention. The latter can be formed directly on a textile fabric structure 11.2, from which the adjoining areas of the piece of sportswear are also formed. The controlled temperature zone 10.2 can also be fabricated separately, and connected with the remaining areas of the piece of sportswear.

FIG. 2 presents a view of the inside of the controlled temperature zone 10.2 to be facing the skin. The dark areas are provided for contacting the skin, while the light areas in between maintain a distance from the skin surface when the piece of clothing is worn with the controlled temperature zone 10.2. Several rows of individual, respectively Y-shaped controlled temperature elements 12.2 are arranged in the controlled temperature zone 10.2, specifically in such a way that one of the legs of the Y-shaped controlled temperature elements 12.2 is aligned in the vertical direction, i.e., parallel to the body axis X. In addition, the row of controlled temperature elements 12.2 is also shifted in the transverse direction in adjacent rows of controlled temperature elements 12.2. As a result, a collection area 19.2 for sweat drops is always present anywhere that a separation point 16.2 between the controlled temperature elements 12.2 exists in the overlying row, and hence an inside air channel 13.2 is formed in between. In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the collection area 19.2 is formed by the splayed legs of the Y-shaped controlled temperature elements 12.2. The thin, dash-dot lines with the upwardly pointing arrows denote the so-called air flow direction, i.e., the path taken by the air A warmed on the skin on the inner side of the textile fabric structure 11.2 facing the skin. By contacting the skin, the controlled temperature elements 12.2 shown as dark zones act as a barrier, and cause the air flows to be diverted. As a result of the arising chimney effect, the warm air is removed as it moves past the obstacles and toward the top.

At the same time, sweat can trickle from the top down, as represented by the thick, solid lines on the left of FIG. 2. Sweat drops that arise directly in the area between adjacent controlled temperature elements 12.2 run directly onto the underlying controlled temperature element 12.2, which according to the exemplary embodiment on FIG. 2 is achieved by the controlled temperature elements 12.2 in the second and fourth row being transversely offset relative to those in the first, third and fifth rows. The effects of capturing the streaming sweat S and rising warmed air A overlap everywhere; the paths of the sweat S and air A are depicted on FIG. 2 in separate areas of the drawing for illustrative purposes only.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a controlled temperature zone 10.3 designed according to the invention. Here as well, the paths of the sweat S are denoted on the left by thick, downwardly pointing arrows, while the paths of air A are denoted on the right by thin, dashed arrows and lines. The body axis once again runs vertically. Respective rod-shaped controlled temperature elements 12.3 are arranged in the left and right areas of the controlled temperature zone 10.3. The air A can once again rise through the inner air channels 13.3 and separation zones between the controlled temperature elements 12.3, 12.3′. Controlled temperature zones 12.3 are here arranged among each other in a V-shaped form in a central zone. A sweat collection area 19.3 is formed inside of the controlled temperature element 12.3 with a downwardly pointing tip. In terms of the lateral, rod-shaped controlled temperature elements 12.3′, the arrangement is such that the offset resulting in the formation of a sweat collection zone 19.3′ is not caused by laterally offsetting the rows of controlled temperature elements 12.3, 12.3′, but rather that the inclination and spacing of the rod-shaped controlled temperature elements 12.3′ are coordinated in a way that sweat drops running by the respective upper ends of the controlled temperature elements 12.2′ are captured at a lower end of an adjacent controlled temperature element 12.3′.

In principle, the illustration on FIG. 4 corresponds to the illustrations described above with respect to the paths for the sweat S and air A, as well as to the alignment of a controlled temperature zone 10.4 in relation to a vertical body axis.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, individual rod-shaped controlled temperature elements 12.4 are aligned one in back of the other in their longitudinal extension, and are separated from each other by separation zones 16.4 on the narrow sides. Several rows of controlled temperature elements 12.4 are arranged one over the other, wherein there are respective surrounding areas 17.4 between the rows that form inner air channels 13.4 that run in a transverse direction to the body axis. There is an offset of half a raster width between the rows of controlled temperature elements 12.4 in the transverse direction, so that sweat drops trickling down through the separation zones 16.4 are caught in a collection area 19.4. The collection area 19.4 is formed by the respective controlled temperature element 12.4 lying in the row thereunder and arranged like a crossbeam.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a controlled temperature zone 10.5. The paths for the sweat and air are not depicted in this case, since they also run the same as in the embodiments described above. As illustrated by the exemplary embodiment of the controlled temperature zone 10.5 according to FIG. 5, controlled temperature elements 12.5 can also be arranged without a uniform raster. The controlled temperature elements 12.5 on FIG. 5 each have varying lengths per row, and the offset between the rows of controlled temperature elements 12.5 among each other has no uniform measure coupled to the length of the controlled temperature elements 12.5. It is only essential that sweat collection areas 19.5 once again be provided underneath a separation zone, which also forms an inner air channel 13.5. FIG. 6 presents another top view of a controlled temperature zone 10.6, which is arranged in a textile fabric structure 11.6 designed as a knitted fabric. The step-shaped structure depicted on FIG. 6 serves to illustrate the individual meshes. Webs 14.6 and outer air channels 18.6 formed on their rear face consist of 10 mesh rows, for example, while a tension zone 15.6 spanning the outer air channel 18.6 only has a width of three mesh rows. The width of the outer air channels 18.6 can be increased in a similar proportion by providing up to twenty five mesh rows to form an outer air channel 18.6, while the tension zones 15.6 spanning these areas have only about ten mesh rows, thereby resulting in a shirring effect. Viewed in the longitudinal extension of the outer air channels, the tension zones 15.6 have a length of two to seven meshes, and are spaced apart from each other by five to twenty meshes, thereby yielding non-spanned chambers with a width of five to twenty meshes for the outer air channels 18.6. The parts of controlled temperature elements 12.6 arranged one over the other and comprising the outer air channels 18.6 are separated from each other by inner air channels 13.6 with a width of four to thirty mesh rows.

FIG. 7 shows a single controlled temperature element 12.1 in a textile fabric structure 11.1 with its three-dimensional structure as viewed in perspective on the exterior of the clothing. As clearly depicted, no sharp boundary edges are present in a piece of sportswear designed according to the invention, which only arise graphically in the schematic illustrations on FIGS. 2 to 6. Readily evident is the shirring of the textile woven or knit by the tension zones 15.1 and the channel-shaped structure extending underneath, which forms the so-called outer air channel 18.1.

REFERENCE LIST

-   10.1 . . . 10.6 Controlled temperature zone -   11.1 . . . 11.6 Fabric structure -   12.1 . . . 12.6 Controlled temperature element -   13.1 . . . 13.6 Inner air channel -   14.1 . . . 14.6 Web -   15.1 . . . 15.6 Tension zone -   16.1 . . . 16.6 Separation zone -   17.1 . . . 17.6 Surrounding areas -   18.1 . . . 18.6 Outer air channel -   19.1 . . . 19.6 Sweat collection zone -   200 Skin -   S Sweat -   A Air 

1. A piece of sportswear with at least one controlled temperature zone comprising a textile fabric structure, which is locally shirred over tension zones into webs, wherein the webs are designed to contact the skin of the wearer on the inner side of the fabric structure, wherein inner air channels are formed between adjacent webs, wherein a respective at least one channel is formed on the rear face of the webs on the shirred fabric structure, and forms an outer air channel, and wherein several webs are arranged one over the other in the controlled temperature zone, wherein a plurality of isolated controlled temperature elements are arranged in the controlled temperature zone, and contain short webs that are separated from each other by lateral separation zones, adjacent inner air channels on the inner side of the fabric structure are connected with each other by the separation zones, and the separation zones between the controlled temperature elements are laterally offset to each other, such that the controlled temperature elements at least partially overlap in relation to the longitudinal extension of the vertical body axis.
 2. The piece of sportswear according to claim 1, wherein the controlled temperature elements in at least one controlled temperature zone are at least partially angled, and include an acute angle of 120° to 150°.
 3. The piece of sportswear according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the controlled temperature elements is shaped like a reclining Yin at least one controlled temperature zone.
 4. The piece of sportswear according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the controlled temperature elements is shaped like a standing Y in at least one controlled temperature zone.
 5. The piece of sportswear according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the controlled temperature elements is shaped like a reclining or standing V in at least one controlled temperature zone.
 6. The piece of sportswear according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the controlled temperature elements is rod shaped and extends transversely or at an inclination to the body axis in at least one controlled temperature zone.
 7. The piece of sportswear according to claim 1, wherein the webs and tension zones are part of a separately fabricated controlled temperature element, which is connected with the textile fabric structure.
 8. The piece of sportswear according to claim 1, wherein the textile fabric structure is a woven fabric, wherein the webs include the shirred base woven fabric, and the tension zones have a reduced mesh number by comparison to the base woven fabric.
 9. The piece of sportswear according to claim 8, wherein the controlled temperature zones have structures that run both inclined and offset to the body axis due to linearly or alternatingly offset rows in the knitting.
 10. The piece of sportswear according to claim 8, wherein the controlled temperature elements have structures that run both inclined and offset to the body axis, wherein a linearly uniform or non-uniform offset knitting and/or an alternatingly uniform or non-uniform offset of individual meshes are provided in the knitting. 